Description
SUPERBLY WELL PRESERVED BARN FIND EXAMPLE OF A VERY RARE ALL ORIGINAL AND UNMOLESTED 1936 BENTLEY 4 1/ 4 L PARK WARD DROP HEAD COUPE WITH ITS ORIGINAL BODY (# A215), ENGINE AND INTERIOR!
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This is an all original 1936 Bentley RHD Drop Head Coupe with its original Park Ward body and 4 1/ 4 liter Rolls Royce engine and all original leather interior from 1936! All original exterior and interior and all complete including original tool kit!
A very original numbers-matching example
Showing just 24, 372 kilometres (15, 144 miles)
1 of just 150 Park Ward drophead coupes built with very few known left in existence and none fully original!
50-plus years of single ownership
Well-documented including copies of original factory records
Mechanically reconditioned and ready for spirited motoring
This specific vehicle is a well-known "barn find" style example that surfaced in remarkably complete and original condition, retaining its factory-issued engine (No. D3be) and elegant open coachwork by Park Ward.
Vehicle Highlights & History:
Chassis Identifier: B133GP
Engine Number: D3be (matching numbers)
Coachwork:
Drophead Coupe by Park Ward (Body No. A. 215), 1 of only 150 built in this exact style.
Provenance:
Originally ordered in April 1936 by Park Ward and delivered new on June 23, 1936, to its first owner, Peter Kiek of London and then R. A. Bonham Christie of the renown Bonham Christie family of Marston House, Somerset and owners of Brownsea Island in England. The original sales were handled by 'Jack Barclay's Rolls Royce Bentley' of Mayfair, London W1 and the specialist firm 'Frank Dale & Stepsons' before spending over 50 years under single ownership, preserved in a garage in the United States from the early 1970s until its recent emergence.
Documentation:
Highly authenticated via copies of the original factory build sheets, testing records, and delivery order forms
The Engine:
A 4, 257 cc naturally aspirated inline-6 with twin SU carburetors.
Output:
Approximately 125126 horsepower.
The Transmission:
A 4-speed manual gearbox delivering power to the rear wheels.
Driving Dynamics:
The larger engine offered vastly improved flexible touring power, giving the car the same acceleration punch in fourth gear that its predecessor required third gear to achieve
Introduced in March 1936 to supersede the 3-litre version, the 4-litre was produced during the celebrated "Derby Bentley" era after Rolls-Royce acquired the brand. Known in contemporary marketing as "The Silent Sports Car," the updated model brought significant enhancements. The Bentley 4-Litre marked a significant step forward for the Derby-built marque, delivering increased power and improved drivability over its 3-Litre predecessor. Designed with refinement and effortless touring in mind, the larger engine provided the smooth, flexible performance expected by Bentleys discerning clientele. Chassis were delivered to leading coachbuilders and bestowed with various bodies, that balanced sporting character with luxurious comfort. With sweeping fenders, a well-proportioned profile, and finely detailed interiors, these cars embodied understated British sophistication. Today, the 4-Litre Drophead Coupe remains a highly regarded pre-war Bentley, admired for its blend of performance, craftsmanship, and timeless style.
The factory records show this chassis, B133GP was ordered in April of 1936 and delivered new on June 23, 1936, with engine no. D3BE to renowned London coachbuilder Park Ward, who furnished the car with desirable Drophead Coupe coachwork, making it 1 of just 150 examples to be built in this fashion.
Finished to Park Wards elegant and sporting design, this 4-1/ 4-Litre was supplied new to its first owner, Peter Kiek of London, representing the height of British motoring sophistication in the prewar era. As documented on the copies of the original build sheets, order forms, and testing sheets, the car retained numerous factory specifications including its 18-inch wheels, Lucas electrical equipment, and correct coach-built detailing, all of which underscore its authenticity today. Following its early life in England, this Bentley was later handled by the well-known firm Frank Dale & Stepsons who sold it to a man by the name of Hanks before being exported to the United States prior to 1971. Shortly thereafter, this example was acquired by Richard Kelley of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a remarkable turn of preservation, the car was stored in Kelleys garage for over 50 years, effectively safeguarding it as an exceptionally original survivor.
